The honesty of cheating
I've been reading a lot of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment
like a lot.
The protagonist in the story, Raskolnikov, is terribly poor and his mind keeps taking him down a dark path of murder and theft in order to remedy his poverty although a part of him becomes nearly sick to the stomach of the thought of it he succumbs to the impulse.
I've been alone a lot this week with Tem in San Diego it's given me a lot of time to both read, and think...along with a lot of time for mindless TV.
I keep thinking about this character and his options. I'm not very far in the book still only about 100 pages in but Dostoevsky does such an amazing job putting the reader in the head of his character that it's gotten me into mental moral dilemmas.
What is it to cheat? To cheat someone is to be dishonest with them.
Cheating in gambiling
Cheating on a test
Cheating playing a sport or competition
Cheating in a relationship
Cheating
Every instance I can think of where the word seems to fit or be used it has something to do with dishonesty
There's this quote I've always heard but never known it's source
"If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'"
Cheating as I think about it more and more is absolutely dishonesty towards the 'other' of the universe however, cheating is at the same time being very honest with yourself.
Before the cards are dealt, before the relationship has started, before the exam has been handing out, before the whistle has blown...The cheater has no intention of cheating.
At least, this is what I believe to be true for humanity, that we are inherently good and that our intentions are likewise. However, there must come a point in the rule abiding person's mind where following the rules will no longer suffice.
Obviously the student with notes up their arm in pen had intentions of cheating before the exam was handed out...but there had to have been a point in that "before" whether that be a month, a semester or even a school year prior where cheating wasn't the game plan.
In order for cheating to occur there needs to come a moment in the cheaters mind. A moment of honesty.
A coming to terms with the fact that you can't afford to lose this hand of poker, you aren't good enough to win this game, you aren't fulfilled by your spouse in some aspect, you didn't prepare enough to pass this test.
In a weird way the more I think about cheating the more I can, to an extent appreciate the honesty of the person attempting to cheat.
It's a desperate act, it's a lack of control in circumstances, it's an honest admittance that you aren't capable of success within the confined rules of the game.
How many crimes committed are out of desperation?
This week while I was home alone I had a lot of free time to watch TV as I mentioned. I decided to go back and attempt to watch all the films that won best picture working backwards. "Chicago" was the first one available to stream that I had not seen before.
The film focuses on all of these women who were put in circumstances beyond their control forcing them to murder...(I understand most of them were lighthearted reasons to kill) But the theme of the film to me seemed to illustrate a time in American history where women had few to no rights to justice and thus pushed to their breaking point had no choice but to take justice into their own hands...what other choice did they have? They were honest with themselves during the crime.
Homicide victim 212 and my stolen car
There was an article written in the Baltimore Sun by Adam Marton in January of 2016. He writes about the time his car was stolen by a 16 year old named Thelonious Monk back in 2003.
This article always brings me close to tears. Job applications and a baby seat, Whoever the thief was, Thelonious or not, They tried to make a break for it understanding the circumstances around them offered little to no options for success pushed to a place, thus having to create their own path.
It's interesting to think about this article how the writer's life was not inconvenienced in hardly anyway from losing his car, while the cheater, the thief, was inconvenienced greatly for lack of a car, to the point of stealing someone else. The most interesting part it how the victim in the end was hoping for the cheater's success. "I wish he had made it."
a sympathetic understanding of the other persons circumstances. If the cheater already owned a car, what are the odds of him committing the crime of stealing the writers car?
Would he still do it or are most crimes circumstantial, pressed by system and reality forced into choosing paths reluctantly but yet inevitably.
If I were walking in his shoes...would I have stolen the car? Would any of us?
Anyway, When this posts I'll be in San Diego with Tem. I miss her so much and I can't wait to spend more time with her in a new place. She's been there all week for work. I will be joining her Saturday morning to spend the long weekend there. I miss and love her.
Drake - In My Feelings
I've been reading a lot of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment
like a lot.
The protagonist in the story, Raskolnikov, is terribly poor and his mind keeps taking him down a dark path of murder and theft in order to remedy his poverty although a part of him becomes nearly sick to the stomach of the thought of it he succumbs to the impulse.
I've been alone a lot this week with Tem in San Diego it's given me a lot of time to both read, and think...along with a lot of time for mindless TV.
I keep thinking about this character and his options. I'm not very far in the book still only about 100 pages in but Dostoevsky does such an amazing job putting the reader in the head of his character that it's gotten me into mental moral dilemmas.
What is it to cheat? To cheat someone is to be dishonest with them.
Cheating in gambiling
Cheating on a test
Cheating playing a sport or competition
Cheating in a relationship
Cheating
Every instance I can think of where the word seems to fit or be used it has something to do with dishonesty
There's this quote I've always heard but never known it's source
"If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'"
Cheating as I think about it more and more is absolutely dishonesty towards the 'other' of the universe however, cheating is at the same time being very honest with yourself.
Before the cards are dealt, before the relationship has started, before the exam has been handing out, before the whistle has blown...The cheater has no intention of cheating.
At least, this is what I believe to be true for humanity, that we are inherently good and that our intentions are likewise. However, there must come a point in the rule abiding person's mind where following the rules will no longer suffice.
Obviously the student with notes up their arm in pen had intentions of cheating before the exam was handed out...but there had to have been a point in that "before" whether that be a month, a semester or even a school year prior where cheating wasn't the game plan.
In order for cheating to occur there needs to come a moment in the cheaters mind. A moment of honesty.
A coming to terms with the fact that you can't afford to lose this hand of poker, you aren't good enough to win this game, you aren't fulfilled by your spouse in some aspect, you didn't prepare enough to pass this test.
In a weird way the more I think about cheating the more I can, to an extent appreciate the honesty of the person attempting to cheat.
It's a desperate act, it's a lack of control in circumstances, it's an honest admittance that you aren't capable of success within the confined rules of the game.
How many crimes committed are out of desperation?
This week while I was home alone I had a lot of free time to watch TV as I mentioned. I decided to go back and attempt to watch all the films that won best picture working backwards. "Chicago" was the first one available to stream that I had not seen before.
The film focuses on all of these women who were put in circumstances beyond their control forcing them to murder...(I understand most of them were lighthearted reasons to kill) But the theme of the film to me seemed to illustrate a time in American history where women had few to no rights to justice and thus pushed to their breaking point had no choice but to take justice into their own hands...what other choice did they have? They were honest with themselves during the crime.
Homicide victim 212 and my stolen car
There was an article written in the Baltimore Sun by Adam Marton in January of 2016. He writes about the time his car was stolen by a 16 year old named Thelonious Monk back in 2003.
I went to the impound lot, recovered my car and drove to Lake Roland — what I considered a peaceful spot — to assess the damage. I saw that the thief had cut my steering wheel and lightly smashed my bumper. I also saw that he had installed a baby seat and a subwoofer and that the car was strewn with job applications from Pizza Hut and other fast food restaurants.
It was, and remains, one of the most heartbreaking scenes of my life. Our lives crossed, however oddly and briefly, and I can't help but think that he probably never had a chance — a chance to escape or a chance to succeed. He likely never had the opportunities I have always enjoyed: a safe neighborhood, good schools, a non-negotiable college education and easy entrance into the job market as a result.
After publishing the story on The Sun's website, Thelonious' mother called and insisted that her son had not stolen my car, but because juvenile records are sealed and I was told he wouldn't be charged with the theft anyway, I have no way to know for sure.
But I can't help but wonder, if he was the one who took my car, was he trying to make a break for it? I wish he had made it.
Rest in peace, young man, I will never forget you.
This article always brings me close to tears. Job applications and a baby seat, Whoever the thief was, Thelonious or not, They tried to make a break for it understanding the circumstances around them offered little to no options for success pushed to a place, thus having to create their own path.
It's interesting to think about this article how the writer's life was not inconvenienced in hardly anyway from losing his car, while the cheater, the thief, was inconvenienced greatly for lack of a car, to the point of stealing someone else. The most interesting part it how the victim in the end was hoping for the cheater's success. "I wish he had made it."
a sympathetic understanding of the other persons circumstances. If the cheater already owned a car, what are the odds of him committing the crime of stealing the writers car?
Would he still do it or are most crimes circumstantial, pressed by system and reality forced into choosing paths reluctantly but yet inevitably.
If I were walking in his shoes...would I have stolen the car? Would any of us?
Anyway, When this posts I'll be in San Diego with Tem. I miss her so much and I can't wait to spend more time with her in a new place. She's been there all week for work. I will be joining her Saturday morning to spend the long weekend there. I miss and love her.
Drake - In My Feelings
